For
those of you wanting to help The Salvation Army’s earthquake
relief work in Japan, you can support our efforts in several ways. 100%
of
your fundswill
be sent to The Salvation Army in Japan for their disaster
response efforts.

Hong Kong: A concert
broadcast live on television in Hong Kong raised more than HK$26
million (US$3.3 million) for The Salvation Army's earthquake and
tsunami response program in Japan. The event was organized by
internationally famous film star Jackie Chan and featured artists well
known in Hong Kong and around the world.

Hong Kong-born Jackie Chan told entertainment website Hollywood Reporter
why he decided to arrange the concert: “For years my Japanese
fans have made a great effort to raise money for my charity, to build
schools in China and to help the victims of the [2008] Sichuan
earthquake. It’s time for me to return the favor and do what
we can to help.”

He personally paid for the plane tickets and accommodation for all the
overseas performers.

All profits from the concert will be passed on to The Salvation Army.
More than 300 Salvationists and Salvation Army staff from its Hong Kong
and Macau Command took telephone donations during the event.

The exact use of the funds is still being decided but it is likely that
much of the money will be used to supply emergency relief packs
– including a 15-day supply of food and water, personal care
and hygiene products and blankets – to people in areas
affected by the earthquake, tsunami and by problems at the Fukushima
Daiichi nuclear power station.

THE SALVATION ARMY IN
JAPAN CONTINUES TO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE IN NEED

April 8, 2011

Japan:Commissioner
Makoto Yoshida, Commander of The Salvation Army's Japan Territory,
reports that the country's recovery from a devastating earthquake and
tsunami is “going well,” although he says that
ongoing
problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station continue to
cause “some uneasiness among the people.” He says
that
everyday goods, including fuel, are becoming easier to obtain and that
around 70 per cent of roads in the disaster zone have now been reopened.

The commissioner adds that the search for missing people is proving to
be difficult. Officials report that 15,000 people are still missing, in
addition to the 12,000 people known to have been killed in the
disaster. Around 166,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes.

The Salvation Army continues to provide assistance where there is a
need.

More than 1,100 meals and other necessities were distributed in Sendai
on 23 March. Treats were given to the 83 children who went to the
distribution. Power and water have now been restored in Sendai so The
Salvation Army is likely to end its distribution there, although it may
continue to provide assistance to needy areas north of the city.

The story is similar in Yabuki-cho, where Major Kenji Fujii and Captain
Kazuyuki Ishikawa met the mayor, who reported that many houses that
look fine from the outside actually suffered significant damage and
will have to be demolished. Recently installed water pipelines for
agricultural usage were destroyed, leading to the loss of the next rice
harvest – a significant part of the area's economy.

The Salvation Army emergency team left goods in storage, to be used as
necessary. The community was also given a clear message that The
Salvation Army would provide support in the future if requested.

At Iwaki-city, which is just outside the 30-kilometer exclusion zone
from Fukushima, a team of seven Salvation Army workers distributed 500
hot meals and 6,000 bottles of water in response to a request from the
director of the emergency response volunteer desk.

Kesen-numa – about 120 kilometers north of Sendai –
was
badly damaged by the tsunami. The corps officer (Salvation Army church
minister) from Sendai contacted a minister in Kesen-numa and discovered
that the community needs support. It has been arranged for two
Salvation Army emergency teams to carry out daily distributions of food
and other necessities from 12 to 15 April.

Thirty kilometers north-east of Kesen-numa is the coastal community of
Rikuzen-Takada, which was badly damaged by the tsunami. A Salvation
Army team distributed hot meals and water on 5 April. While there, team
members investigated how the Army can offer further assistance.

Photos of The Salvation Army's response in Japan can be found on the
International Headquarters Flickr site: click here
to access.

THE SALVATION ARMY IN
JAPAN CONSIDERS LONG-TERM RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKE

March 24, 2011

Japan:
Salvation Army emergency workers in Japan report that the government
disaster response is proceeding well and that most areas in need of
assistance have now been reached. Salvation Army teams continue to
provide vital supplies such as food and water in Sendai and also in
Yabuki-cho, both of which are near Fukushima but outside the exclusion
zone set up around the nuclear power plant. Yabuki-cho appears to be
one of the few areas not yet reached by government help.

Some areas hit particularly badly by the disaster are still not
accessible but Salvation Army workers understand that other
non-governmental organizations are also not being allowed into these
parts. The exclusion zone around the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power
plant remains in place and local reports suggest the situation is
improving.

As previously reported, bottled water has been provided to The
Salvation Army's Japan Territory from Korea. The Salvation Army World
Services Organization (SAWSO) in the USA is organizing a delivery of
blankets and has arranged for samples of food packages to be sent to
territorial leaders who will then have the option to order any if
needed.

There has been a considerable financial response to The Salvation
Army's Japan Disaster Appeal from around the world. The Japan Territory
believes funds already available in-country will cover the costs of the
current response and that money raised from around the world will
enable a medium to long-term response. The territory is considering
building temporary accommodation and providing household goods and
equipment but these plans are still at the early stages.

Commissioner Makoto Yoshida, The Salvation Army's Territorial Commander
in Japan, is grateful for the practical and spiritual support that has
been offered from across the world.

He reports that commuters in Tokyo who were given food, drink and
shelter at territorial headquarters on the night of the earthquake have
sent letters of thanks, some including a donation for the relief work.

Photos of The Salvation Army's response in Japan can be found on the
International Headquarters Flickr site: click here
to access.

Japan: The Salvation
Army's earthquake response in Japan is continuing its work despite
difficulties caused by snow and the lack of fuel. A team that was set
to head from Tokyo to the tsunami-hit north of the country had to delay
its journey because of snow but has now made its way to Sendai, where a
distribution will take place tomorrow morning (Saturday).

The three teams that carried out distributions in Sendai, Koriyama,
Shirakawa, Fukushima and Mito City on Wednesday 16 March returned to
The Salvation Army's Japan Territorial Headquarters in Tokyo [pictured
below] to report on what they had seen and decide what should be done
next. International Emergency Services worker Major Raelton Gibbs
reports: 'The work that has been done is commendable – from
feeding programs out of Salvation Army halls to the distribution of
blankets, water bottles, bread and nappies (diapers).'

He says that Tokyo continues to feel aftershocks and admits that 'no
matter how many you experience they are all a little daunting'.

The Salvation Army distribution teams are well aware of the concerns
surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station and are staying
clear of the exclusion zones.

Major Gibbs says he has been impressed by the response put together by
The Salvation Army's Japan Territory. The fuel and weather problems
mean that people have had to be flexible. He tells of one group that
tried to get to Sendai but was unable to make it all the way and so met
the needs of some smaller communities around Koriyama on the way back
to Tokyo.

The focus is understandably on the immediate response but Major Gibbs
says that longer-term plans are being put in place, such as the
provision of cooking equipment when people return to their communities.
As it often does in emergency responses, The Salvation Army will pay
particular attention to communities that have been missed by the
government and other agencies.

Photos of The Salvation Army's response in Japan can be found on the
International Headquarters Flickr site: click here
to access.

Tokyo, Japan:
Captain Christopher Marques is a young Salvation Army Officer
(minister) who is from Decatur, Illinois, but is currently stationed at
The Salvation Army’s Headquarters for Japan. His normal work
is with the young people in Japan. Following are some excerpts from a
message we received from him early on Wednesday Morning, March 16.

…Thank you for
your prayers. They are perhaps the greatest
gift we can use right about now. As you know, the country is still
being shaken by aftershocks; even today we just felt a larger one after
lunch. But so far they have not been near the level we saw on Friday I
am starting to get used to the ground shaking a little bit on and off,
but still am surprised by some of the frequent medium-sized incidents.

There is
still a problem with the reactors that are critical and
leaking in the Fukushima area (in-between Tokyo and the tsunami-hit
area of Sendai). The immediate area surrounding the plant has, of
course, been evacuated from a 30 kilometer radius.

For now,
those near the affected area who have not been evacuated or
staying in temporary shelters have been advised to stay indoors. In the
rest of the country we aren't moving much since gas/petrol is hard to
find…the fuel lines are still stretching for blocks for
anyone trying to get their car filled up.

The power
supply is being cut in various areas to save the whole
electrical system from crashing. With subways and trains running
reduced schedules, and cars being used less- many are either using
bicycles, walking or staying home.

The stores
are struggling to keep shelves full and some things are
simply impossible to find—even for us trying to get food for
the relief victims. Today was not quite as crowded or busy in the
grocery/convenience stores.

Most of us
here have thankfully been able to go to work each day and
help manage the relief effort from our Tokyo office.

My boss has
left to help support the first relief teams that are
further north. He has training and experience with disaster situations,
so he was a natural choice along with the rest of the group. However,
he is very close to the reactor area helping with victims and I pray
for his safe return.

Today, during
our daily morning devotions, we sang Count Your
Blessings, and that song really came alive as we thanked God for our
lives, His protection, our basic needs being met at this time and just
having shelter, clothing and access to some kind of food each day.

We appreciate
your continued prayer support for the people here during
this difficult time. May God bless you all back home and keep you
hearts firmly connected to Him.

God Bless You,

Chris

The
Salvation Army has had a presence in Japan since 1895 and is also
mobilizing a significant international response to manage both
immediate and long-term needs. Two experienced International Emergency
Services workers have flown to Tokyo from International Headquarters in
London to assist their Japanese colleagues. The Salvation Army's Korea
Territory has arranged for the K-Water Corporation to provide 100,000
bottles of water to be sent to Japan – 30,000 bottles by the
end of the week, followed by the rest within a short time; the Korea
Disaster Relief Association will also be sending 5,000 first-aid kits.

Sendai, Japan:
The Salvation Army in Japan has three emergency service relief teams
operating in areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami that hit
the north-east coast of the country last week. One of the teams is
assisting people who have been evacuated from areas where there is
potential danger because of damage to nuclear power generation stations.

At this time there are no reports
of any loss of Salvation Army personnel or damage to corps buildings.

Immediately following the
earthquake and
tsunami an assessment team was sent from Tokyo to Sendai (the city
nearest the center of the earthquake). It took the team 20 hours to
travel a journey that usually is accomplished in six hours.

Road and rail systems have been
severely
affected. There is a shortage of gasoline, with many gas stations
closed and lines up to three kilometers long at stations that are open.

The disaster has affected a 2,000
kilometer
north-south stretch of Japan. Official reports now state that more than
10,000 people are dead or missing.

Arrangements are being made for
emergency
service personnel from The Salvation Army International Headquarters
(IHQ) to go to Japan to assist with the Army's relief effort.

A number of Salvation Army
territories have
informed IHQ of financial and prayer support for the Army's relief
effort in Japan. The Salvation Army in South Korea has set aside the
next four weeks specifically for prayer and fundraising for Japan.

###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE SALVATION ARMY RESPONDS TO
DEVASTATION IN JAPANMonetary Donations Encouraged

March 11, 2011

Sendai, Japan: Early
Friday morning, a tsunami slammed Japan’s eastern coast
following a large earthquake which rocked the region. Early reports
indicate extensive damage to property and significant loss of life.

Salvation Army personnel are
assessing the damage and initiating recovery efforts. Word has been
received from Japan’s Territorial Commander, Commissioner
Makoto Yoshida. The Commissioner writes:

“It is reported that
there are more than 60 dead confirmed so far and many more missing. The
number of houses destroyed are not yet known. The most damaged city is
Sendai which is about 400 km away from Tokyo. Still our building swayed
tremendously. It was hard for us to keep standing. Many of us were
really frightened. We are sending a team to Sendai tonight and start
tomorrow providing the basic necessities as well as assessing the level
of damages and what we can do from now on. Even in Tokyo the whole
public transports stopped and many a commuters could not go home. We
opened our hall on the ground floor of THQ building to those who could
not go home. We were able to serve them with hot drinks and packed
meals. Thank you for your interest and prayers.”

Currently, those interested in
aiding the relief effort are encouraged to give monetary donations.
Monetary funds offer great flexibility and enable local disaster
responders to purchase exactly what is needed as close to the disaster
zone as possible.

Bear
in mind, it will be
extremely difficult and expensive to ship in-kind donations overseas
from the United States to Japan. It is more efficient for disaster
relief agencies to purchase needed resources locally and for immediate
distribution with the disaster area. The best way for U.S. donors to
help Japanese disaster survivors is to make a cash donation. Please
note that your local The Salvation Army continues to accept donations
of used clothing, furniture and other items to support local
programming. Please consider donating your used items to your local
Salvation Army Thrift Store.

Since 1895, The Salvation Army
has provided emotional, spiritual, and physical care to individuals and
families in need throughout Japan. Currently, 81 active officers and
1,068 employees operate 57 church and community centers (Corps), 12
small social service stations (outposts), 2 hospitals, and more than 20
institutions serving children, seniors, the addicted, and other at-risk
populations. Due to the Army’s extensive presence, it is
unlikely that volunteers from the United States will be needed for
initial recovery operations.

Sendai, Japan: The
Salvation Army in Japan is responding to the earthquake and tsunami
that brought devastation to the north of the country. Communication and
travel have been badly hit by the disaster, and at the moment the true
cost in human life and property can only be guessed.

The most damaged city is Sendai,
about 400 kilometers away from Tokyo. Commissioner Makoto Yoshida,
leader of The Salvation Army’s Japan Territory, was at
territorial headquarters in Tokyo and reports: ‘Our building
swayed tremendously. It was hard for us to keep standing and many of us
were really frightened.’

He adds: ‘We are
sending a team to Sendai tonight [11 March] and tomorrow we will start
providing the basic necessities as well as assessing the level of
damage so we can decide what else we can do.’

Public transport in Tokyo stopped
because of the earthquake, leaving many commuters unable to leave work.
Commissioner Yoshida says: ‘We opened our hall on the ground
floor of territorial headquarters to those who could not go home. We
served them with hot drinks and packed meals.’

General Shaw Clifton, the
international leader of The Salvation Army, has already been in touch
with the commissioner to assure him of the prayers and support of
Salvationists around the world.

The Salvation Army has been in
Japan since 1895 and currently operates over 80 locations within the
country. According to their website, they have dispatched emergency
relief workers who are currently assisting with victims and first
responders. As we receive more updates from the field, we will be sure
to pass those along to you. We ask that you continue to pray for the
people affected by this catastrophic event and for those performing
search and rescue for the hundreds missing.

Currently, those interested in
aiding the relief effort are encouraged to give monetary donations.
Monetary funds offer great flexibility and enable local disaster
responders to purchase exactly what is needed as close to the disaster
zone as possible.